About Jesus
Luke Writes,
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:1-7.
The apostle John writing from a spiritual point of view writes,
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it....
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-5, 9-14.
Here are two versions of the birth of Jesus. Luke’s version that describes the physical birth of Jesus. That he was born in Bethlehem in barn.
The other version the apostle John’s version tells spiritually who Jesus is. He makes it clear that,
“He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
Simply put Jesus was there at the dawn of creation. That all things were made by him. Jesus is God in other words.
He makes it clear that,
“The Word (Jesus), became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
In other words Jesus whom John refers to as the “Word” who is God came into His creation.
He came to show us the way to heaven. Jesus said of himself,
‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
Jesus never shied away from this. He claimed to be the way to God. The religious leaders of his day would have seen this as Jesus making himself equal to God.
John records this incident during the trial of Jesus before the Roman Governor
“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
John 18:33-37
The very reason Jesus was on trial was two fold. First the religious leaders of his day seen him as a threat to their authority. Second the he claimed to be God, which was blasphemy and punishable by death.
C.S. Lewis said of Jesus,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Please think about it
Tuesday, 21 April 2015
Monday, 20 April 2015
Sons of God
Sons of God
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:26-28.
What a wonderful thing to be called Sons of God.
The gospel of John records,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:12,13.
When we believe in Jesus. When we accept Christ by faith and allow him to come into our heart and mind we become children of God. Christians should never forget this.
As believers in Christ we must remember that we are representing him at all times be it on the street in the work place or wherever we go.
People whether or not we realize it notice what we do and what we say. They see our actions they even know if we attend church or not and they judge us.
We must be cognisant of this.
Francis of Assisi said two things that cannot be stressed enough to the true Christian,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi.
Our life and our lifestyle should reflect Christ. We should be open and honest with all people.
We should also be real not “bible thumpers” hitting people, especially non-
Christians over the head with scripture.
We should not try to be as my friend puts it “holier than thou”.
We should live in the real world. A world that we will not always agree with or approve of. But we should not be quick to criticize it. The apostle Paul stating,
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Our job as Christian is to win as many souls for Christ as possible. In order to do that we must be able to talk to people on their level. Starting with something they understand.
The apostle Paul when invited to speak to the Athenians started by noting the temple to an unknown god. Then from that point of commonality presented the gospel of Christ. We should be doing likewise today.
Think about it.
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:26-28.
What a wonderful thing to be called Sons of God.
The gospel of John records,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:12,13.
When we believe in Jesus. When we accept Christ by faith and allow him to come into our heart and mind we become children of God. Christians should never forget this.
As believers in Christ we must remember that we are representing him at all times be it on the street in the work place or wherever we go.
People whether or not we realize it notice what we do and what we say. They see our actions they even know if we attend church or not and they judge us.
We must be cognisant of this.
Francis of Assisi said two things that cannot be stressed enough to the true Christian,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi.
Our life and our lifestyle should reflect Christ. We should be open and honest with all people.
We should also be real not “bible thumpers” hitting people, especially non-
Christians over the head with scripture.
We should not try to be as my friend puts it “holier than thou”.
We should live in the real world. A world that we will not always agree with or approve of. But we should not be quick to criticize it. The apostle Paul stating,
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Our job as Christian is to win as many souls for Christ as possible. In order to do that we must be able to talk to people on their level. Starting with something they understand.
The apostle Paul when invited to speak to the Athenians started by noting the temple to an unknown god. Then from that point of commonality presented the gospel of Christ. We should be doing likewise today.
Think about it.
Sunday, 19 April 2015
Sit with Sinners
Sit with Sinners
“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2:16,17.
Each Wednesday evening I lead a Bible study at our church. While we study the scriptures systematically I encourage discussion. We have no set period of time for going through the scriptures. Our aim is to make sure everyone at the study understands what is being said.
As a result there are times when we’ve spent the entire study on just a few verses or phrases that people don’t understand. Thanks to being in the computer age we have a multitude of resources to help us.
Our aim at the study is to show people how to live a life more acceptable to God. While at the same time showing them how to reach out to others in a positive Godly way. The way Jesus would want us to do.
Quite often after the study we end up talking for sometime. This casual talk sometimes brings up some interesting things.
At one session an older couple who love the Lord dearly. Who work as hard as they can to live Godly lives mentioned that they’d been invited to a ballet recital for their granddaughter. When they got there they were horrified at the “skimpy costumes”.
What brought it up was a picture I’d shown them on my Ipad. A picture of a ballerina pirouetting with hands raised in praise praising God in front of a cross. They found the picture offensive. Apparently this was a similar costume to what they’d seen at the recital.
I and my pastor had thought nothing of the picture. We seen it as praise to God. The costume was in no way revealing.
This couple with the best of intents had told their granddaughter and their daughter that they disapproved of the costumes. The girls had simply said they disagree and wouldn’t change.
Fortunately that event and apparently several others had not caused a rift between them but it did turn them from Christ. From what I gather they looked on the bible as a book of do’s and don’t’s.
This incident showed me that we as Christians need to be careful what we do and how we act around non-Christians especially within our families.
It turns out this couple has no television and listens almost exclusively to Christian radio and music. They have a very limited view of the world. I don’t think Jesus would want us to be like that.
I think Jesus were he walking the earth today would watch television and perhaps even use some of the content to illustrate scriptural messages.
In the above scripture from Mark, Jesus is accused of sitting with sinner and talking to them. We have no record of him ever criticizing them or speaking against their lifestyle.
Throughout the New Testament there is no mention of either Jesus or the Apostles ever criticizing those outside their faith.
They lived in the world and were it seems well aware of the society around them, Jewish, Roman and Greek.
The apostle Paul most certainly had cause to criticize the Greeks in Athens yet he didn’t he presented Christ crucified and risen. His speech in Athens is what we should pattern our witnessing after. The book of acts recording,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
At that, Paul left the Council.
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”
Acts 17:17-34
Note some disagreed, but some were saved and just as importantly some wanted to hear him again on the subject.
This is how we should be when we witness for Christ. We should be doing it in such a way as people get saved and we are invited back to speak with them again.
Think about it.
“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2:16,17.
Each Wednesday evening I lead a Bible study at our church. While we study the scriptures systematically I encourage discussion. We have no set period of time for going through the scriptures. Our aim is to make sure everyone at the study understands what is being said.
As a result there are times when we’ve spent the entire study on just a few verses or phrases that people don’t understand. Thanks to being in the computer age we have a multitude of resources to help us.
Our aim at the study is to show people how to live a life more acceptable to God. While at the same time showing them how to reach out to others in a positive Godly way. The way Jesus would want us to do.
Quite often after the study we end up talking for sometime. This casual talk sometimes brings up some interesting things.
At one session an older couple who love the Lord dearly. Who work as hard as they can to live Godly lives mentioned that they’d been invited to a ballet recital for their granddaughter. When they got there they were horrified at the “skimpy costumes”.
What brought it up was a picture I’d shown them on my Ipad. A picture of a ballerina pirouetting with hands raised in praise praising God in front of a cross. They found the picture offensive. Apparently this was a similar costume to what they’d seen at the recital.
I and my pastor had thought nothing of the picture. We seen it as praise to God. The costume was in no way revealing.
This couple with the best of intents had told their granddaughter and their daughter that they disapproved of the costumes. The girls had simply said they disagree and wouldn’t change.
Fortunately that event and apparently several others had not caused a rift between them but it did turn them from Christ. From what I gather they looked on the bible as a book of do’s and don’t’s.
This incident showed me that we as Christians need to be careful what we do and how we act around non-Christians especially within our families.
It turns out this couple has no television and listens almost exclusively to Christian radio and music. They have a very limited view of the world. I don’t think Jesus would want us to be like that.
I think Jesus were he walking the earth today would watch television and perhaps even use some of the content to illustrate scriptural messages.
In the above scripture from Mark, Jesus is accused of sitting with sinner and talking to them. We have no record of him ever criticizing them or speaking against their lifestyle.
Throughout the New Testament there is no mention of either Jesus or the Apostles ever criticizing those outside their faith.
They lived in the world and were it seems well aware of the society around them, Jewish, Roman and Greek.
The apostle Paul most certainly had cause to criticize the Greeks in Athens yet he didn’t he presented Christ crucified and risen. His speech in Athens is what we should pattern our witnessing after. The book of acts recording,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
At that, Paul left the Council.
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”
Acts 17:17-34
Note some disagreed, but some were saved and just as importantly some wanted to hear him again on the subject.
This is how we should be when we witness for Christ. We should be doing it in such a way as people get saved and we are invited back to speak with them again.
Think about it.
Saturday, 18 April 2015
My Testimony
My Testimony
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans 3:23.
Forty-two years ago in a small church that an old girlfriend had taken me to. I became a youth leader. I believed there was a God but didn’t have what I can only describe as a heart knowledge of God.
The girlfriend and I split. She stopped going to the church but I continued on.
One day I was asked to give a message to the youth. I began with the above verse. Why I don’t really know. I just know that’s where I felt I had to start. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
I remember I stumbled over the meaning of the words as I spoke but those words stuck with me.
A few weeks later I went to a Doug Oldham concert and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.
The words I’d started my teaching with a few weeks earlier suddenly had meaning. I realized that I was indeed a sinner. That I couldn’t live a life good enough to reach heaven that I needed Jesus in my life.
I realized the truth of John 3:16-18 that says,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18.
I realized the truth of Ephesians 2:8,9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9.
I realized that God through Jesus Christ had reached down to me, because I was not good enough to reach up to Him.
Over the forty-one years since then life had thrown a lot of things both good and bad at me. I have done things I’ve regretted but I have never regretted letting Christ into my life.
I can attest that the words of Jesus are true when he said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
That is why I write these blogs, present the gospel to anyone who will listen, and teach the Bible at church and any other place I’m asked to.
I believe it is the most important message the world needs to hear.
Dear reader please consider reading the Bible and letting Jesus into your life.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
The Apostle Paul writing to the Romans 3:23.
Forty-two years ago in a small church that an old girlfriend had taken me to. I became a youth leader. I believed there was a God but didn’t have what I can only describe as a heart knowledge of God.
The girlfriend and I split. She stopped going to the church but I continued on.
One day I was asked to give a message to the youth. I began with the above verse. Why I don’t really know. I just know that’s where I felt I had to start. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
I remember I stumbled over the meaning of the words as I spoke but those words stuck with me.
A few weeks later I went to a Doug Oldham concert and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.
The words I’d started my teaching with a few weeks earlier suddenly had meaning. I realized that I was indeed a sinner. That I couldn’t live a life good enough to reach heaven that I needed Jesus in my life.
I realized the truth of John 3:16-18 that says,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18.
I realized the truth of Ephesians 2:8,9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9.
I realized that God through Jesus Christ had reached down to me, because I was not good enough to reach up to Him.
Over the forty-one years since then life had thrown a lot of things both good and bad at me. I have done things I’ve regretted but I have never regretted letting Christ into my life.
I can attest that the words of Jesus are true when he said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
That is why I write these blogs, present the gospel to anyone who will listen, and teach the Bible at church and any other place I’m asked to.
I believe it is the most important message the world needs to hear.
Dear reader please consider reading the Bible and letting Jesus into your life.
Friday, 17 April 2015
Prayers of Intercession and Thanksgiving
Prayers intercession and thanksgiving
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.
And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing."
1Timothy 2:1-8.
The Apostle Paul here is living in the time of Nero. Nero was one of the most violent opponents of the church. It would be under Nero’s reign that many Christians including most of the disciple of Christ would be murdered.
This tyrant reportedly used Christians as human torches. History regards him as one of the worst despots in history. An ancient Hitler or in modern terms, ISIS.
Yet despite this Paul writes,
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
This is a call for today.
I once had a person say persecution brings out the pure believers. That may be true but Christianity is spread easiest when there is peace. So we should pray for peace in our country and in our world.
Peace allows us to get the message of Christ, which is the most important message of all time, out to the world.
Paul reminding us,
“This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Jesus said
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous...”
Matthew5: 43-45.
I know it’s hard to pray for such a seemingly satanically inspired group as ISIS. But we are called to do so. We are called to pray and have them change their ways. We are called to pray that they may find the way of salvation.
That they may let we and our Christian brethren live in peace and present the gospel to those around them.
The gospel of Mark records this,
“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2:16,17
Please think about it.
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.
And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing."
1Timothy 2:1-8.
The Apostle Paul here is living in the time of Nero. Nero was one of the most violent opponents of the church. It would be under Nero’s reign that many Christians including most of the disciple of Christ would be murdered.
This tyrant reportedly used Christians as human torches. History regards him as one of the worst despots in history. An ancient Hitler or in modern terms, ISIS.
Yet despite this Paul writes,
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
This is a call for today.
I once had a person say persecution brings out the pure believers. That may be true but Christianity is spread easiest when there is peace. So we should pray for peace in our country and in our world.
Peace allows us to get the message of Christ, which is the most important message of all time, out to the world.
Paul reminding us,
“This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Jesus said
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous...”
Matthew5: 43-45.
I know it’s hard to pray for such a seemingly satanically inspired group as ISIS. But we are called to do so. We are called to pray and have them change their ways. We are called to pray that they may find the way of salvation.
That they may let we and our Christian brethren live in peace and present the gospel to those around them.
The gospel of Mark records this,
“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2:16,17
Please think about it.
Thursday, 16 April 2015
Because
Because
Because...
“He (God) first loved us.”
1 John 4:19
I will...love God
Because...
“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish
but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
I will...love God
Because...
Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another; as I have loved you,
that you also love one another.
By this shall all know that you are My disciples.
If you have love for one another.
John 13:34,35
I will...love my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Because...
Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you,
and pray for those who spitefully use you.”
Luke 6:27,28
I will...love my enemies.
Because...
The Bible says, “Love suffers long and is kind:
love does not envy; loves does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own,
is not provoked, thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth;
bears all things; believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
I Corinthians 13:4-7
I will...I will love.
Because...
The Bible says, “Now abides faith, hope and love,
these three;
but the greatest of these is love. 1
Corinthians 13:13
I will...Have faith in God..
For according to Ephesians 2:8,9:
“...by grace you have been saved through faith,
and not of yourselves;
it is a gift of God, not of works; lest anyone should boast.”
I have hope in Christ...
For
according to Romans 5:1,2:
“...having been justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our LORD Jesus Christ,
through whom also we have access by faith into this grace
which we stand, and rejoice in hope of glory of God.”
I have love...
For
Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40:
“...you shall love the LORD your God
with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it:
“You shall love your neighbour as yourself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Because of this and much more
I will love.
Scripture assembled by Neal W. with words fromthe apostles
Matthew, Luke, John & Paul
Wednesday, 15 April 2015
IS is not the First
IS is not the first.
T.H. White wrote
“There was just such a man when I was young—an Austrian who invented a new way of life and convinced himself that he was the chap to make it work. He tried to impose his reformation by the sword, and plunged the civilized world into misery and chaos. But the thing which this fellow had overlooked, my friend, was that he had a predecessor in the reformation business, called Jesus Christ. Perhaps we may assume that Jesus knew as much as the Austrian did about saving people. But the odd thing is that Jesus did not turn the disciples into Strom troopers, burn down the Temple at Jerusalem, and fix the blame on Pontius Pilate. On the contrary, he made it clear that the business of the philosopher was to make ideas available, and not to impose them on people.”
T.H. White, The Once and Future King.
As I look at terrorist groups around the world today I cringe in horror. Still they are not new. Tyrants throughout history have been trying to impose their will on people for centuries.
Hitler alone killed six million Jews and five million other people whom he looked down on or whom he disagreed with.
Hitler I am certain has had judgment past on him as will the leaders of IS and all terrorist groups around today.
Paradise is the one place these people will not be going.
What these people who lead terror organizations fail to see is history has taught that violence and intolerance only ends in destruction. Empires founded on violence have all fallen.
One man’s Kingdom however has not and his followers reach into every country, in every strata of society around the world. That Kingdom is God’s and Jesus is His one and only Son.
Jesus was sent to point the way to heaven. To die for the sins of each and every man, woman and child.
Jesus never raised a hand in anger even to the men that condemned him to die. In fact he called out from the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Napoleon wrote of Jesus,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Napoleon Bonaparte.
Today there are approximately two point two billion (2,200,000,000) Christians in the world. All won over by love.
IS and other terrorist groups have but a few million under their foot at this moment, and while like Hitler they may think they are building their version of the thousand year riche they are sadly mistaken.
If these people truly want to build heaven on earth they need to turn to Jesus and follow the path of love.
Jesus is recorded in the book of John giving the two options that are available to all men,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."
John 3:16-18.
Killing innocent men women and children dose not lead to paradise Jesus does.
Please think about it.
T.H. White wrote
“There was just such a man when I was young—an Austrian who invented a new way of life and convinced himself that he was the chap to make it work. He tried to impose his reformation by the sword, and plunged the civilized world into misery and chaos. But the thing which this fellow had overlooked, my friend, was that he had a predecessor in the reformation business, called Jesus Christ. Perhaps we may assume that Jesus knew as much as the Austrian did about saving people. But the odd thing is that Jesus did not turn the disciples into Strom troopers, burn down the Temple at Jerusalem, and fix the blame on Pontius Pilate. On the contrary, he made it clear that the business of the philosopher was to make ideas available, and not to impose them on people.”
T.H. White, The Once and Future King.
As I look at terrorist groups around the world today I cringe in horror. Still they are not new. Tyrants throughout history have been trying to impose their will on people for centuries.
Hitler alone killed six million Jews and five million other people whom he looked down on or whom he disagreed with.
Hitler I am certain has had judgment past on him as will the leaders of IS and all terrorist groups around today.
Paradise is the one place these people will not be going.
What these people who lead terror organizations fail to see is history has taught that violence and intolerance only ends in destruction. Empires founded on violence have all fallen.
One man’s Kingdom however has not and his followers reach into every country, in every strata of society around the world. That Kingdom is God’s and Jesus is His one and only Son.
Jesus was sent to point the way to heaven. To die for the sins of each and every man, woman and child.
Jesus never raised a hand in anger even to the men that condemned him to die. In fact he called out from the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Napoleon wrote of Jesus,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Napoleon Bonaparte.
Today there are approximately two point two billion (2,200,000,000) Christians in the world. All won over by love.
IS and other terrorist groups have but a few million under their foot at this moment, and while like Hitler they may think they are building their version of the thousand year riche they are sadly mistaken.
If these people truly want to build heaven on earth they need to turn to Jesus and follow the path of love.
Jesus is recorded in the book of John giving the two options that are available to all men,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."
John 3:16-18.
Killing innocent men women and children dose not lead to paradise Jesus does.
Please think about it.
Tuesday, 14 April 2015
False Teachers,
False Teachers
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so differences you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
1 Timothy 1-5
Paul here is writing to Timothy and emphasizes the need to speak out and correct false teachers.
Speaking against false teaching in the church is a big thing for Paul. He wants to make sure the pure word of God is taught. This is how it should be today.
Today the threat from false teachers is greater than ever before because of the easy access to the media. That is why we as Christians need to be on the alert for those who would lead others away from the faith.
Having said that I know within the Christian faith there are different interpretations of some minor doctrines. That’s to be expected.
There however should be no debate on the central beliefs of Christianity. The apostles creed although not written by the apostles, I believe sums these basic beliefs up when it says,
In the apostle Paul’s day as it is today there are many people who are out there particularly trying to part Christians from their money. There are others who are out there deliberately trying to lead Christians astray.
I remember a preacher in the late seventies named Jim Jones who was a good orator who so misled people that he took them down to place in a south American country where they all committed mass suicide.
Today there are men and women in the media in particular that all they want to do is get rich. They do this by convincing Christians that by contributing to their ministry God will bless them ten, twenty, or even a hundred fold. Looking on God as if he were a ‘sugar daddy’. A divine banker who gives a hundred percent interest on their money. This is simply garbage.
As Christians we need to be watching and carefully listening to what is being preached. We need to be looking at the evangelist, preachers and teachers to see if they are truly living up as far as possible to the word of God.
We from time to time need to question them about where the money they are collecting is really going. Not only is the money being spent legally according to the laws of the country they are in, but are they doing what is morally right with the money they receive.
Is most of the money collected for example going to the ministry or is the evangelist or pastor taking the lions share?
When it comes to teaching the scriptures we need to be asking them to explain their reasoning behind what they are teaching.
I know when I teach the adult mid week bible study at our church we encourage questions. I am frequently asked how I came to the conclusion I did. We will even stop and discuss a point for as long as it takes for everyone to understand.
I and my pastor are also open to correction as we expect everyone who comes out to it to be. No one is perfect we all make mistakes.
I was always taught that a teacher of the Gospel of Christ is held up to a higher standard. This is what we should be doing to every one who is preaching or teaching Gods word.
Please think about it.
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so differences you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
1 Timothy 1-5
Paul here is writing to Timothy and emphasizes the need to speak out and correct false teachers.
Speaking against false teaching in the church is a big thing for Paul. He wants to make sure the pure word of God is taught. This is how it should be today.
Today the threat from false teachers is greater than ever before because of the easy access to the media. That is why we as Christians need to be on the alert for those who would lead others away from the faith.
Having said that I know within the Christian faith there are different interpretations of some minor doctrines. That’s to be expected.
There however should be no debate on the central beliefs of Christianity. The apostles creed although not written by the apostles, I believe sums these basic beliefs up when it says,
Apostles' Creed
I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
The third day he rose again from the dead:
He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
I believe in the Holy Ghost:
I believe in the holy catholic* church (*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places.): the communion of saints:
The forgiveness of sins:
The resurrection of the body:
And the life everlasting.
Amen.
In the apostle Paul’s day as it is today there are many people who are out there particularly trying to part Christians from their money. There are others who are out there deliberately trying to lead Christians astray.
I remember a preacher in the late seventies named Jim Jones who was a good orator who so misled people that he took them down to place in a south American country where they all committed mass suicide.
Today there are men and women in the media in particular that all they want to do is get rich. They do this by convincing Christians that by contributing to their ministry God will bless them ten, twenty, or even a hundred fold. Looking on God as if he were a ‘sugar daddy’. A divine banker who gives a hundred percent interest on their money. This is simply garbage.
As Christians we need to be watching and carefully listening to what is being preached. We need to be looking at the evangelist, preachers and teachers to see if they are truly living up as far as possible to the word of God.
We from time to time need to question them about where the money they are collecting is really going. Not only is the money being spent legally according to the laws of the country they are in, but are they doing what is morally right with the money they receive.
Is most of the money collected for example going to the ministry or is the evangelist or pastor taking the lions share?
When it comes to teaching the scriptures we need to be asking them to explain their reasoning behind what they are teaching.
I know when I teach the adult mid week bible study at our church we encourage questions. I am frequently asked how I came to the conclusion I did. We will even stop and discuss a point for as long as it takes for everyone to understand.
I and my pastor are also open to correction as we expect everyone who comes out to it to be. No one is perfect we all make mistakes.
I was always taught that a teacher of the Gospel of Christ is held up to a higher standard. This is what we should be doing to every one who is preaching or teaching Gods word.
Please think about it.
Monday, 13 April 2015
How to preach the gospel
How to preach the gospel
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
“Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.
On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Matthew 10:16-22
Here is something directed to the disciples at the time that can be directly used by followers of Christ today.
When we go out to present the word of God to unbelievers we are to be careful know our surroundings be wise to what is happening. At the same time we are to be as innocent as doves.
The Message of the Gospel of Christ is one of peace. If we present it in the right way no one will be able to truthfully accuse us of doing wrong.
All we should be doing when we present the word of God is saying this is what we believe. This is how you get to heaven. That simple.
Paul speaking in Athens used this technique very effectively. He was invited by the stoics and others philosophers to speak to them. He simply presented Christ in a polite way to them and left it up to them as to whether they believed or not.
As a result some did believe others did not but still others wanted to hear more.
This is the way it should be with us.
Jesus also notes that no matter what we say some will object to what we are saying and bring us before the courts. Some of us will be put to death. It sadly is the way of the world.
But we are told to stand our ground that God will tell us what to say as we stand before the magistrate.
We are told to keep the faith until the very end.
Question to Christians reading this. Is your life modelled after what Jesus is telling his disciples to be like here in Matthew ten?
Think about it.
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
“Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.
On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Matthew 10:16-22
Here is something directed to the disciples at the time that can be directly used by followers of Christ today.
When we go out to present the word of God to unbelievers we are to be careful know our surroundings be wise to what is happening. At the same time we are to be as innocent as doves.
The Message of the Gospel of Christ is one of peace. If we present it in the right way no one will be able to truthfully accuse us of doing wrong.
All we should be doing when we present the word of God is saying this is what we believe. This is how you get to heaven. That simple.
Paul speaking in Athens used this technique very effectively. He was invited by the stoics and others philosophers to speak to them. He simply presented Christ in a polite way to them and left it up to them as to whether they believed or not.
As a result some did believe others did not but still others wanted to hear more.
This is the way it should be with us.
Jesus also notes that no matter what we say some will object to what we are saying and bring us before the courts. Some of us will be put to death. It sadly is the way of the world.
But we are told to stand our ground that God will tell us what to say as we stand before the magistrate.
We are told to keep the faith until the very end.
Question to Christians reading this. Is your life modelled after what Jesus is telling his disciples to be like here in Matthew ten?
Think about it.
Sunday, 12 April 2015
New Wine
New wine
“Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.
Neither do men pour new wine into old wine skins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wine skins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wine skins, and both are preserved.”
Matthew 9:14-17.
Here’s a quick explanation of this passage based on several commentaries I’ve read.
Basically here Jesus is comparing himself to the bride groom and he makes it clear that the guests of the bride groom, his disciples, his followers, do not fast while the bride groom is with them. They rejoice.
He goes on to note that “Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.”
He’s comparing his ministry to new wine.
In the time of Jesus wine was kept in goat skins. Old skins were already stretched to the maximum putting new grape juice into them would cause the old skins to burst as the as the new juice fermented and expanded spilling the wine.
Jesus is saying his ministry is a new ministry that can no longer be contained in the structure of Judaism.
His ministry is for the whole world. Not just Israel. Jesus saying,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."
John 3:16-18
Up until this point in time while there were converts to Judaism, Judaism itself was not a religion that evangelized.
Now Jesus was changing all of that by taking the belief in the one true God to the whole world.
This is why Jesus came to take the salvation message. The Love of God to all the nations of the world.
The message of Christianity is this.
“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."
John 1: 11-13
Christians ask people to believe by faith that Jesus is the one and only Son of God. That he came to this earth to save each and everyone who would have faith in Him.
True Christians will never force their faith on anyone. They will simply present their faith and let the individual decide for themselves. Which is what I have done here.
Please think about it.
“Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.
Neither do men pour new wine into old wine skins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wine skins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wine skins, and both are preserved.”
Matthew 9:14-17.
Here’s a quick explanation of this passage based on several commentaries I’ve read.
Basically here Jesus is comparing himself to the bride groom and he makes it clear that the guests of the bride groom, his disciples, his followers, do not fast while the bride groom is with them. They rejoice.
He goes on to note that “Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.”
He’s comparing his ministry to new wine.
In the time of Jesus wine was kept in goat skins. Old skins were already stretched to the maximum putting new grape juice into them would cause the old skins to burst as the as the new juice fermented and expanded spilling the wine.
Jesus is saying his ministry is a new ministry that can no longer be contained in the structure of Judaism.
His ministry is for the whole world. Not just Israel. Jesus saying,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."
John 3:16-18
Up until this point in time while there were converts to Judaism, Judaism itself was not a religion that evangelized.
Now Jesus was changing all of that by taking the belief in the one true God to the whole world.
This is why Jesus came to take the salvation message. The Love of God to all the nations of the world.
The message of Christianity is this.
“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."
John 1: 11-13
Christians ask people to believe by faith that Jesus is the one and only Son of God. That he came to this earth to save each and everyone who would have faith in Him.
True Christians will never force their faith on anyone. They will simply present their faith and let the individual decide for themselves. Which is what I have done here.
Please think about it.
Saturday, 11 April 2015
False Teachers
False Teachers
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough....
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15
The Bible is the ultimate base for our Christian beliefs. Sadly the truths contained in the Bible have been twisted by many preachers and evangelist over the years. It happened in the time of Paul it is happening today. The easy access to the media we have today makes it even easier for false teachers to propagate their message.
The Apostle Paul here writing to the Corinthians warns the Corinthians and through them us about such false teachers.
Paul makes it clear “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.”
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:15-23.
As Christians we need to be vigilant. Paul referred to the false teachers at Corinth sarcastically as “super apostles”. They apparently were far more eloquent of speech than he was. And there in is the danger. People that speak well and sound good but are really wolves in sheep’s clothing.
I remember when I was much younger a couple of us went out side during a break at a Christian conference.
We were dressed in suit and tie and so we looked like we had integrity. We simply went out and started to point into a sky that had scattered clouds. All we said was “there it is. I can see it” “yes it’s there. Just there.” within a few minutes we had half a dozen people pointing and saying they seen “it”.
We didn’t even say what “it” was. It didn’t matter however there was nothing in the sky.
We didn’t have the nerve to tell the people nothing was there, so we simply walked away.
“It” however showed how people could be easily misled by a few people who looked honest.
Christians who are taught to be trusting can also be led away easily by preachers and evangelist who look honest and trusting.
The best way for Christians to know the truth is to read the Bible for themselves. To find several commentaries and books on church history and Jewish culture in the day of Christ. There are a lot of good books out there.
Make sure however that you don’t put the commentaries ahead of the Bible. The Bible is the supreme authority for all Christian teaching.
A good commentary will point out both sides of an argument over what may be a contentious portion of scripture.
Also be careful some groups and evangelist put out their “own commentary”. While claiming to be a commentary these are frequently really one person’s thoughts on scriptures. They give only what they believe and not the whole picture.
When it comes to church history there is a lot out there. Read about the early church and the various movements that lead up today.
As for Jewish culture, it is rich in symbolism and meaning. For the Christians learning about Jewish holiday and the various customs opens ones eyes to greater meaning within our own faith.
The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
2Timothy 2:15-19
What Paul is saying could be said to people today. As can everything that is written in the Bible.
The Bible is a living book showing believers how to live. It is a beacon to the none believer to come into a personal relationship with God.
Please think about it.
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough....
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15
The Bible is the ultimate base for our Christian beliefs. Sadly the truths contained in the Bible have been twisted by many preachers and evangelist over the years. It happened in the time of Paul it is happening today. The easy access to the media we have today makes it even easier for false teachers to propagate their message.
The Apostle Paul here writing to the Corinthians warns the Corinthians and through them us about such false teachers.
Paul makes it clear “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.”
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:15-23.
As Christians we need to be vigilant. Paul referred to the false teachers at Corinth sarcastically as “super apostles”. They apparently were far more eloquent of speech than he was. And there in is the danger. People that speak well and sound good but are really wolves in sheep’s clothing.
I remember when I was much younger a couple of us went out side during a break at a Christian conference.
We were dressed in suit and tie and so we looked like we had integrity. We simply went out and started to point into a sky that had scattered clouds. All we said was “there it is. I can see it” “yes it’s there. Just there.” within a few minutes we had half a dozen people pointing and saying they seen “it”.
We didn’t even say what “it” was. It didn’t matter however there was nothing in the sky.
We didn’t have the nerve to tell the people nothing was there, so we simply walked away.
“It” however showed how people could be easily misled by a few people who looked honest.
Christians who are taught to be trusting can also be led away easily by preachers and evangelist who look honest and trusting.
The best way for Christians to know the truth is to read the Bible for themselves. To find several commentaries and books on church history and Jewish culture in the day of Christ. There are a lot of good books out there.
Make sure however that you don’t put the commentaries ahead of the Bible. The Bible is the supreme authority for all Christian teaching.
A good commentary will point out both sides of an argument over what may be a contentious portion of scripture.
Also be careful some groups and evangelist put out their “own commentary”. While claiming to be a commentary these are frequently really one person’s thoughts on scriptures. They give only what they believe and not the whole picture.
When it comes to church history there is a lot out there. Read about the early church and the various movements that lead up today.
As for Jewish culture, it is rich in symbolism and meaning. For the Christians learning about Jewish holiday and the various customs opens ones eyes to greater meaning within our own faith.
The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
2Timothy 2:15-19
What Paul is saying could be said to people today. As can everything that is written in the Bible.
The Bible is a living book showing believers how to live. It is a beacon to the none believer to come into a personal relationship with God.
Please think about it.
Friday, 10 April 2015
The Golden Rule
The Golden Rule
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12.
This is a statement that is echoed in other faiths, the so called golden rule.
I find it is something Christians at times forget.
They in the name of God go around preaching and judging others. They try to force what they believe on others.
Many Christian groups have tried over the years to restrict the rights of others. This should not be so.
We should be helping preserve the rights of others whether we are in a democracy or not.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
Abba Hillel Silver
We as Christians owe it to ourselves and to others to treat all people in the way we wish to be treated.
We should always take time to think before we act and ask ourselves the question would I like this being done to me.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist wrote,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
As Christians we should be standing up for the rights of others even if we disagree with them. By standing up for the rights of others we open a dialogue and that helps to spread the gospel message.
Think about it.
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12.
This is a statement that is echoed in other faiths, the so called golden rule.
I find it is something Christians at times forget.
They in the name of God go around preaching and judging others. They try to force what they believe on others.
Many Christian groups have tried over the years to restrict the rights of others. This should not be so.
We should be helping preserve the rights of others whether we are in a democracy or not.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
Abba Hillel Silver
We as Christians owe it to ourselves and to others to treat all people in the way we wish to be treated.
We should always take time to think before we act and ask ourselves the question would I like this being done to me.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist wrote,
“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
Tony Campolo
As Christians we should be standing up for the rights of others even if we disagree with them. By standing up for the rights of others we open a dialogue and that helps to spread the gospel message.
Think about it.
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